Spotlight

More than half of high school seniors attend schools that don't offer computer science, according to a new analysis by Change the Equation, a nonprofit organization that aims to mobilize businesses to improve STEM learning.

The familiar garbage in/garbage out axiom has long been a mantra of computer programmers, and nowhere is the cause-and-effect principle more apparent than when working with robots. Faced with the three-dimensional movements (and sometimes audio vocalizations) of robots, students across the grade spectrum can see the direct results of their input.

Minecraft just received another education boost. An ed tech startup that encourages students to build their own mods for the popular online virtual world game has received a second grant from the National Science Foundation that will enable it to continue development of its coding environment for novice programmers.

About 10,000 teachers were busy at work this summer participating in Project Lead the Way's Core Training program, which seeks to empower teachers to take a hands-on, project-based approach in STEM instruction.

A new initiative to test out competency-based learning for training middle and high school teachers in science and math has shown enough mastery to gain the "informal" approval of the state where it's located.

Kids-Tech, an Atlanta-based ed tech company, has launched Tech Class, a year-long program for elementary school kids designed to help build a foundation of knowledge in technology. The weekly classes cover 3D printing, app building, drones and virtual reality.

The organization behind the Next Generation Science Standards has begun releasing sample "bundles" of standards to help people move away from thinking that the standards are supposed to be taught as a checklist.

Worldwide revenues for the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) markets are expected to grow from $5.2 billion in 2016 to more than $162 billion in 2020, according to research done by the International Data Corporation (IDC). The $156.8 billion increase represents a compound annual growth rate of 181.3 percent over the 2015-20 forecast period.

Sponsor: AIAA Foundation (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
Award: $250
Number of Awards: Not specified (up to two grants per educator per year)
Qualification:
Teacher submitting proposal must be AIAA member (Educator Associate membership is free and includes other benefits); homeschool clubs of 25 or more students also eligible
Application Deadline: Nov. 16 (submission period opens Oct. 1)

Sponsor: Verizon
Award: $5,000 plus technology for state-level winners; $15,000 additional cash, plus travel and support, for national winners
Number of Awards: 102 state-level winners (one middle school and one high school team from each state, plus DC); nine national winners (four middle school and four high school, plus one "fan favorite" based on public voting)
Application Deadline: Nov. 18

Sponsor: Toshiba America Foundation
Award: Two categories: Up to $5,000 and more than $5,000
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Up to $5,000 awarded on a rolling basis; Feb. 1, 2017 deadline for applications for more than $5,000

Deadline: Ongoing

Deadline: Ongoing

Deadline: Ongoing

Deadline: Ongoing

Deadline: Ongoing
Award: No more than 10 percent of an organization's annual operating expenses or 25 percent of the total budget for the project being funded; awards have ranged from the hundreds to the millions of dollars.
Number of Awards: Varies
Qualification: Project should "directly serve or impact children living in urban poverty, particularly in the areas of education, family economic stability (including microfinance) and childhood health."

Nov. 16–18, 2016
Orlando, FL

Dec. 8–9, 2016
New York, NY

Professional Resources

THE STEAM is a monthly K-12 newsletter focused exclusively on STEM and STEM+Arts (STEAM). Each issue highlights the technologies, curriculum tools, trends and best practices that power education in science, technology, engineering, math and the arts. Issues also spotlight exceptional projects and programs taking place in schools across the nation. Please direct any questions or comments about THE STEAM to dnagel@1105media.com

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